Karnataka Health Minister UT Khader has said that he has discussed the Zika virus issue with the State Health Department officials and there was no ground for panic among the public.
Addressing presspersons in Mangaluru on Friday, Khader said the government would initiate steps to screen passengers at airports, if needed, to tackle the outbreak of this disease.
Zika virus, which is spreading in the Americas, causes birth defects and neurological problems such as microcephaly, a condition that causes babies to be born with an abnormally small head.
Stating that the Health Department has not received any alert from the World Health Organisation on the virus, he said the government is yet to receive any protocol guidance on Zika virus.
Urging people not to worry about the virus, he asked pregnant women to guard against mosquito bite. Zika virus is caused by Aedes aegypti mosquito that also causes dengue and chikungunya.
Asked if the State government had initiated steps to screen passengers coming from the Americas at the airports, the Minister said the screening, if needed, can be thought of as many people are working in IT sector in the US and other countries.
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